Page 49 of Dark Little Game

He’s been taking my situation a little personally ever since the dart hit my neck, which is flattering, but unnecessary.

Colossus Dining Hall is crowded as usual when we arrive.

I always prefer the Kettle.

But if the Kettle is like a medieval tavern, the Colossus is more like something out of a fantasy film. It has colossally high vaulted ceilings, chandeliers, and carved ornate wooden beams lining the ceiling every few feet. Paned windows line the wall, and smaller stained glass windows are dotted all along the top near the ceiling.

We grab trays and fill our plates with food. Most of the guys grab fresh-made mac and cheese, but I go for a sweet crepe filled with chocolate, strawberries, and whipped cream, because a guy’s allowed to have dessert for dinner when he’s being stalked. Usually I max out on protein and try to eat as clean as I can before a football season, but right now I need sugar.

We head over to a free table at the edge of the room.

I haven’t even sat down yet before I notice Hunter. He’s sitting a couple of tables over, across from a girl with long, shiny black hair.

I want to be far away from him, but as always, something in me also wants to get closer, and it makes me fucking sick.

Noah catches me staring.

He looks back.

“So Knox finally has a friend,” Noah says under his breath.

“He found a girl as crazy as he is,” Weston says. “Saw them in front of Baker Hall the other day. She’s a new member of Luros, I think.”

I’m still watching her with Hunter.

He seems to be having a normal conversation with her.

In all my time knowing him, back in high school, Hunter Knox never really seemed to have a friend.

“What’s crazy about her? I ask Weston. “What was her name? Brienne?”

“Briar. All I know is that she’s new here too, she does fencing, and a few days ago at the Luros mixer she told me she raises caterpillars into moths and butterflies. In herdormroom,” Weston says.

“Not that weird.”

“It’s a little fuckin’ weird, bro. You want caterpillars, moths, and butterflies in your dorm? I can have it arranged for you.”

I take a bite of a strawberry. “Put caterpillars in my bedroom and I’ll drop-kick you off the balcony,” I tell Weston. “I’m sure Briar has one of those atrium things if she raises butterflies, Wes. They’re not going to be free-flying around her room.”

He shrugs. “Who knows.”

I glance over at her again. She looks pretty damn normal to me, and beautiful, too.

Is it possible that Hunter is hooking up with her?

Dating her, even?

They’re laughing about something now, and I realize I’m seeing true happiness on Hunter’s face.

So maybe there’s a heart somewhere in that chest, after all.

Hunter finally looks up and meets my eyes.

I look down and reach over toward Weston’s plate to steal a big bite of mac and cheese, ignoring Hunter’s gaze.

“Hey. Royal,” Roman says as he sits down across the table. “I’m going to contact my cousin. He can offer you protection. I think you might need it.”

As Roman leans on the table, his forearm flexes and the intricate tattoos along his arm shift. The back of his hand sayshonestasin a cursive script, and it’s one of my favorite tattoos of his.